Polish court rejects motion to remove crucifix from parliament

(The Polish parliament — with its crucifix at left — during a speech by visiting French President Francois Hollande in Warsaw November 16, 2012. REUTERS/Peter Andrews )

A Polish court has rejected a motion calling for the removal of a crucifix from parliament’s debating chamber in a case pitting Poland’s traditional Catholicism against a younger generation who think the church is too strong.

Warsaw’s district court late on Monday argued that since the cross had not been met with any objections in the past it was accepted by most Poles and did not violate their rights.

The crucifix was placed in the chamber one night by two conservative politicians in 1997.

The court also chastised the anti-clerical Palikot’s Movement party led by former vodka tycoon Janusz Palikot which brought the court case, accusing it of calling for tolerance yet failing to show acceptance of religious symbols.